Newbridge Cafe — Restaurant in Chelsea

OMG, what a find! What the hell are Steak Tips? I’m from San Francisco and grew up on what we now call Tri Tip. On annual business trips to Boston I’ve often seen “Steak Tips” on the menu not knowing but thinking they may be the same as Tri Tip. Googling the term I discovered they are an inexpensive sirloin bottom round, heavily marinated and very tasty. The article also said THE UNDISPUTED BEST were at a local place in Chelsea called the New Bridge Cafe. I choose to stay in Chelsea on my Boston Trip, as its close to Logan Airport and I like the “local” feel. I ventured two miles to New Bridge and write this after dining. I luckily arrived shortly before 5:00pm and was in love as I parked my car. Inside feels like you’re at home in Grandmas neighborhood with its homey feel. The Red Sox rule here with proper homage to the Pats, Bruins and Celts. This is definitely BOSTON. The cafe QUICKLY crowded up by 5:00. What struck me first was (with the exception of me) the 100% proliferation of Boston accents and warm hospitality. Folks, it’s worth the journey just to hear the conversations. Ok...so what about the food?

As good if not better than advertised. I ordered the Steak Tip/sweet Italian Sausage combo with steak fries and a HOT pepper ($19.95). There is NOTHING left on my plate. Delicious start to finish. The Tips were marinated and grilled to utter perfection and the huge sausage was everything this Italian/Irish guy has always loved. Thick steak fries were perfect.

A word about the alcohol. I’m a lover of Cabernet Sauvignon and Canadian blended whiskey. The more I travel I find the old standards Canadian Club and VO are being replaced by the more popular/expensive Crown Royal. New Bridge offered them all. Speaking of old standards besides house Cabernet, Louis Martini Cab was available. A solid and reliable Cab.

The service was pristine, the atmosphere nostalgic and the food truly delightful. In passing I didn’t order the salad but I heard and saw the massive portion with one choice of dressing: their own house made. Likewise, the giant racks of ribs looked equally enticing.

In a time of fru-fru foods and indifferent service, make the journey here and enjoy food, service and REAL BOSTONIANS. It’s truly...

Recently went back to Newbridge Cafe with my kids. I bragged that I use to come here in High School. First off when we sat down, I know it’s wrong but my younger daughter, age 8, is a fussy eater so I grabbed her a McDonald’s kids meal and took it in the restaurant for her to eat. The older women waitresses noticed that and came over and said that you can’t bring outside food into the restaurant. I get it. However there was 3 other people with us. Myself my wife and my older daughter. The waitress went out of her way to call over the manager, not the owner because I’ve been scrolling through pictures on line here, a guy who looks like he’s been drinking at the bar all day, and he reiterated the fact that my daughter can’t eat that outside food in the restaurant. I gave him my story that I’ve been coming here since High School and wanted my kids to experience it. I even told him that my younger daughter was going to order the fries. He wasn’t having it. He was very aggressive and I said to him so you are willing to forego a $100.00 at least bill over a happy meal. She’s a fussy eater. The rest of us are all going to order steak tips and fries. At just under $30.00 per meal for steak tips I don’t get it.. So I told my family to get up and we walked out. He followed me out to the parking lot and while eyeballing me the whole time like he wanted to fight me he got in a vehicle with four of his buddies. I wish I wasn’t with my family at this point because the level of disrespect this guy showed in front of my family was off the charts. Shame on the older lady waitress also. Did you ever have kids. There are fussy eaters out there. A $3.00 happy meal cost you your tip plus a $100.00 bill. Shame on you. I will NEVER RETURN TO THIS PLACE. Bad management and uncaring and cold wait staff. Goodbye Forever NEWBRIDGE CAFE.....

After hearing such positive reviews of Newbridge from people I finally made a point to go visit an on the menu was what else...steak tips. I opted for the side salad AND a half order of the steak fries. So lets start with the good. First the local bread from Piantedosi was fresh and a nice way to start a meal. The fries are big and hearty and not greasy at all. Though I had mine plain, these would really perform well with some cheese, bacon, and sour cream. The steak tips are high quality and very tender.

So the not so good. As I mentioned the fries were nice and I should add very fresh, but they need salt coming out of the kitchen. The salad looked as advertised, but I didnt care for the salad dressing, found it too sweet and watery especially when being served on the same plate as hot steak tips. The steak tips while tender and cooked well have no flavor and were really disappointing. The marinade tasted like a ketchup or maybe a weak bbq sauce base, maybe red wine vinegar in there too but not much else. it would be greatly enhanced by some savory seasonings, garlic and onion powder, and some salt and pepper. And at at a price point of 14 dollars for a half order (4 pieces + 1 side) of steak tips and 20 for a full order (8 pieces + 1 side) I...